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The main purpose of this paper is to consider the multiple birth properties for multi-type Markov branching processes. We first construct a new multi-dimensional Markov process based on the multi-type Markov branching process, which can reveal the multiple birth characteristics. Then the joint probability distribution of multiple birth of multi-type Markov branching process until any time t is obtained by using the new process. Furthermore, the probability distribution of multiple birth until the extinction of the process is also given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper concentrates on the general birth–death processes with two different types of catastrophes. The Laplace transform of transition probability function for birth–death processes with two-type catastrophes is successfully expressed with the Laplace transform of transition probability function of the birth–death processes without catastrophe. The first effective catastrophe occurrence time is considered. The Laplace transform of its probability density function, expectation and variance are obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider n-type Markov branching–immigration processes. The uniqueness criterion is first established. Then, we construct a related system of differential equations based on the branching property. Furthermore, the explicit expression of extinction probability and the mean extinction time are successfully obtained in the absorbing case by using the unique solution of the related system of differential equations and Kolmogorov forward equations. Finally, the recurrence and ergodicity criteria are given if the zero state 0 is not absorbing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural variations (SVs) play an essential role in the evolution of human genomes and are associated with cancer genetics and rare disease. High-throughput chromosome capture (Hi-C) technology probed all genome-wide crosslinked chromatin to study the spatial architecture of chromosomes. Hi-C read pairs can span megabases, making the technology useful for detecting large-scale SVs. So far, the identification of SVs from Hi-C data is still in the early stages with only a few methods available. Especially, no algorithm has been developed that can detect SVs without control samples. Therefore, we developed HiSV (Hi-C for Structural Variation), a control-free method for identifying large-scale SVs from a Hi-C sample. Inspired by the single image saliency detection model, HiSV constructed a saliency map of interaction frequencies and extracted saliency segments as large-scale SVs. By evaluating both simulated and real data, HiSV not only detected all variant types, but also achieved a higher level of accuracy and sensitivity than existing methods. Moreover, our results on cancer cell lines showed that HiSV effectively detected eight complex SV events and identified two novel SVs of key factors associated with cancer development. Finally, we found that integrating the result of HiSV helped the WGS method to identify a total number of 94 novel SVs in two cancer cell lines. Author summary: Cancer and rare diseases are often driven by structural variations (SVs). Despite their importance, detecting SV events remains challenging. High-throughput chromosome capture (Hi-C) technology has proven valuable for large-scale SV detection. However, algorithms that can use Hi-C data without control samples for SV detection have been severely lacking. Therefore, we presented HiSV (Hi-C for Structural Variation), a control-free method for identifying large-scale SVs from a Hi-C sample. We evaluated HiSV's performance on the simulation datasets and cancer cell lines, HiSV achieved superior accuracy and sensitivity. Moreover, HiSV effectively captured complex SVs in cancer cell lines. Finally, we demonstrated that HiSV can be applied to supplement the result of WGS methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider the important decay parameter issue for a Markovian bulk-arrival and bulk-service queue which stops at reaching the first m states. The results obtained in this paper are a significant generalization of the ones obtained in Chen et al. (Queueing Syst 66:275–311, 2010). The exact value of the decay parameter is obtained. Based on the results obtained in this paper, we provide a practical method for calculating the decay parameter which is very effective. In some cases, the decay parameter can even be easily expressed explicitly. Some important key lemmas which also have their own interest are provided. The interesting and clear geometric interpretation of the decay parameter is explained. A few examples are provided to illustrate the results obtained in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the design of planetary sampling devices, calculating the reaction force acting on the sampling devices is crucial. According to related research, the influence zone caused by sampling plays an important role in calculating the reaction force. A new method for estimating the range of the influence zone based on 3D DEM simulation is discussed in this paper. Taking lunar soil as an example, first, via validation of physical experiments, the DEM lunar soil simulant was proven to have mechanical properties similar to those of real lunar soil. Second, stress was selected as an indicator to identify the influence zone by computing the match percentage via a comparison between classical soil mechanics and DEM simulation. Using the proposed calculation method, it can be observed that the trend of change of influence zone at different sampling moments showed similar to the change of reaction force. Calculation of the influence zone can be used to analyze the reaction force of different gravity environments, sampling device structures, and motions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivated by communication networks, we study a single-server queue with varying service rates and multiple customers' types. The difference between types of customers is defined by the profits contributed to the system. We show that the optimal trunk reservation policy exists and we compare the optimal control levels with different parameter values. Furthermore, when the optimal trunk reservation policy is more than one, we prove the uniqueness of the bias optimal policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper concentrates on considering the down/up crossing property of weighted Markov collision processes. The joint probability generating function of down crossing and up crossing numbers of weighted Markov collision processes until its extinction are obtained by constructing and studying a related multi-dimensional Markov chain. Hence, the joint probability distribution of down crossing and up crossing numbers and the mean numbers are obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Posttranslational modifications, such as SUMOylation, play specific roles in the life cycle of invading pathogens. However, the effect of SUMOylation on the adaptation, pathogenesis, and transmission of influenza A virus (IAV) remains largely unknown. Here, we found that a conserved lysine residue at position 612 (K612) of the polymerase basic protein 1 (PB1) of IAV is a bona fide SUMOylation site. SUMOylation of PB1 at K612 had no effect on the stability or cellular localization of PB1, but was critical for viral ribonucleoprotein (vRNP) complex activity and virus replication in vitro. When tested in vivo, we found that the virulence of SUMOylation-defective PB1/K612R mutant IAVs was highly attenuated in mice. Moreover, the airborne transmission of a 2009 pandemic H1N1 PB1/K612R mutant virus was impaired in ferrets, resulting in reversion to wild-type PB1 K612. Mechanistically, SUMOylation at K612 was essential for PB1 to act as the enzymatic core of the viral polymerase by preserving its ability to bind viral RNA. Our study reveals an essential role for PB1 K612 SUMOylation in the pathogenesis and transmission of IAVs, which can be targeted for the design of anti-influenza therapies. Author summary: IAV has evolved to exploit the host posttranslational modifications system for its own benefit. The transcription and replication of IAV genome occur in the nucleus of infected cells, which is catalyzed by the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). PB1 is the catalytic subunit and the assembly core of the RdRp. The ability to efficiently bind viral RNA by PB1 is a prerequisite for the RdRp to fulfil its function. In this study, we demonstrated that PB1 protein from different subtypes of IAV is a target of SUMOylation in both transfected and infected cells, and identified K612 of PB1 as the key SUMOylation site. The vRNP complex activity, replication in vitro, pathogenicity in mice and airborne transmission among ferrets were dramatically attenuated when the SUMOylation-defective PB1/K612R mutation was introduced. Notably, we found that SUMOylation at K612 is essential for PB1 to acquire the ability to efficiently bind viral RNA, thus allowing for the RdRp to transcribe and replicate the viral genome. Our findings therefore thoroughly explore the contribution of PB1 SUMOylation on influenza infection and establish SUMOylation site PB1 K612 as a potential target for anti-influenza drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large deviation rates are determined for quantities associated with a Markov branching process (X t : t ≥ 0) having offspring mean m ∈ (1 , ∞) and split rate a > 0. The principal quantities examined are P (| X t + τ / X t − exp (a (m − 1) t) | > 𝜖) and P (| W − W t | > 𝜖) , where W is the almost sure limit of an appropriately normed version of X t . Modifications and conditional versions are examined. Some of this requires determination of the asymptotic behavior of harmonic moments E (X t − r). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, Burr-X distribution with unified hybrid censored data is considered. The maximum likelihood method, the Bayesian and the E-Bayesian (the expectation of the Bayesian estimate) approaches are studied for the distribution parameter and the associated reliability function. The Bayesian and the E-Bayesian estimates are derived under LINEX and squared error loss (SEL) functions. We apply Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) techniques to derive the Bayesian and the E-Bayesian estimates. Also, confidence intervals (CIs) of the maximum likelihood estimates, as well as credible intervals (CRIs) of the Bayesian and the E-Bayesian estimates, are computed. On the other hand, an example of a real data set is provided for the purpose of illustration. Finally, a numerical comparison among the proposed methods is performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider an M / M/ c queue with catastrophes and state-dependent control at idle time. Properties of the queues which terminate when the servers become idle are first studied. Recurrence, equilibrium distribution, and equilibrium queue-size structure are studied for the case of resurrection and no catastrophes. All of these properties and the first effective catastrophe occurrence time are then investigated for the case of resurrection and catastrophes. In particular, we obtain the Laplace transform of the transition probability for the absorbing M / M/ c queue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the trans-media hydrodynamics of a multi-rotor hybrid aerial underwater vehicle (HAUV) is studied base on experiments and machine learning. First, experiments are conducted to obtain the hydrodynamic forces during water exit/entry. Then, based on the experimental data and phenomena, it is evident that the multi-rotor HAUV's total resistance, particularly the impact of the arms, should not be ignored. The overall resistance is primarily affected by the depth and velocity at constant velocity. The total resistance increases as the velocity increases. The maximum total resistance in water exit/entry can be 46%/64% of gravity. Finally, a two-layer feed-forward network with six sigmoid hidden neurons and linear output neurons is used for machine learning training. The training results show that using experimental data and a machine learning method, the trans-media resistance of HAUV can be accurately predicted within a certain range. • Hydrodynamic experiments are conducted to determine the resistance of multi-rotor HAUVs during water exit/entry. • The trans-media resistance of multi-rotor HAUVs, particularly the impact of the arms, is detailly analyzed. • Experimental method combined with machine learning can predict the trans-media resistance of HAUV accurately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with a predator-prey model of Beddington-DeAngelis type functional response with Lévy jumps. The proposed mathematical model consists of a system of two stochastic differential equations to stimulate the interactions between predator population and prey population. The dynamics of the system is discussed mainly from the point of view of persistence and extinction. To begin with, the global positivity, stochastically boundedness and other asymptotic properties have been derived. In addition, sufficient conditions for extinction, nonpersistence in the mean and weak persistence are obtained. It is proved that the variation of Lévy jumps can affect the asymptotic property of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article concentrates on investigating decay properties of Markovian bulk-arriving queues withc-servers which stop immediately after hitting the state zero. The exact value of the decay parameter λCfor the caseB′c(1) > 0 is first given. Then, by using the generating functions of the correspondingq-matrix, a test functionFλ(s) is constructed. The exact value of the decay parameter λCfor the caseB′c(1) ⩽ 0 is then obtained according to the sign of. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper deals with stochastic nonautonomous Gompertz model with Lévy jumps. To begin with, the existence of a global positive solution and an explicit solution have been derived. In addition, asymptotic moment properties are discussed. Besides, sufficient conditions for extinction, persistence in mean, and weak persistence are obtained. It is proved that the variability of Lévy jumps can affect the asymptotic property of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bluetongue virus (BTV) is the causative agent of bluetongue (BT), an important sheep disease that caused great economic loss to the sheep industry. There are 26 BTV serotypes based on the outer protein VP2. However, the serotypes BTV-1 and BTV-16 are the two most prevalent serotypes in China. Vaccination is the most effective method of preventing viral infections. Therefore, the need for an effective vaccine against BTV is urgent. In this study, DNA vaccines and recombinant fowlpox virus (rFPV) vaccines expressing VP2 alone or VP2 in combination with VP5 or co-expressing the VP2 and VP5 proteins of BTV-1 were evaluated in both mice and sheep. Several strategies were tested in mice, including DNA vaccine prime and boost, rFPV vaccine prime and boost, and DNA vaccine prime and rFPV vaccine boost. We then determined the best vaccine strategy in sheep. Our results indicated that a strategy combining a DNA vaccine prime (co-expressing VP2 and VP5) followed by an rFPV vaccine boost (co-expressing VP2 and VP5) induced a high titer of neutralizing antibodies in sheep. Therefore, our data suggest that a DNA vaccine consisting of a pCAG-(VP2+VP5) prime and an rFPV-(VP2+VP5) boost is an important candidate for the design of a novel vaccine against BTV-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider a multiclass service system with refusal and bulk-arrival. The properties regarding recurrence, ergodicity, and decay properties of such model are discussed. The explicit criteria regarding recurrence and ergodicity are obtained. The stationary distribution is given in the ergodic case. Then, the exact value of the decay parameter, denoted by λ, is obtained in the transient case. The criteria for the λ-recurrence are also obtained. Finally, the corresponding λ-invariant vector/measure is considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To gain a better understanding of the genetic changes required for attenuation of duck enteritis virus (DEV), the Chinese standard challenge strain of DEV (DEV CSC) was serially passaged 80 times in chick embryo fibroblasts. We plaque-purified the virus after the 25th passage (DEV p25) and the 80th passage (DEV p80) and investigated its in vitro and in vivo properties. Average plaque sizes for DEV p25 and p80 were significantly smaller than those for their parental DEV CSC. The results from an in vivo experiment revealed that DEV p25 and p80 were avirulent in ducks and protected them from virulent DEV challenge. The complete genome sequence of DEV p80 was determined and compared with that of the parent virus. An 1801-bp deletion was identified in the genome of DEV p80, which affected the genes encoding gI and gE. Moreover, there were 11 base substitutions, which led to seven amino acid changes in open reading frames LORF9, UL51, UL9, UL7, UL4, ICP4 and US3. Further DNA sequence analysis showed that the 1801-bp deletion was also present in DEV p25. Our findings suggest that DEV gE and/or gI are nonessential for virus growth and might, as with other herpesviruses, play an important role in cell-to-cell spread and virulence. Our experiments provide more genetic information about DEV attenuation and further advance our understanding of the molecular basis of DEV pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider decay properties regarding decay parameter and invariant measures of Markovian bulk-arrival and bulk-service queues with state-independent control. The exact value of the decay parameter, denoted by λ, is firstly revealed. A criterion regarding λ-recurrence and λ-positive is obtained. The corresponding λ-subinvariant/invariant measures and λ-subinvariant/invariant vectors are then presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Flower-like BiOCl hierarchical structures were successfully synthesized in the presence of citric acid through a solvothermal process using methanol as a solvent. The citric acid played significant roles, which functioned as both a chelating regent and a structure-directing agent. The as-synthesized flower-like BiOCl particles were assembled by numerous BiOCl nanosheets with a thickness of ca. 15–20nm. Importantly, such a flower-like BiOCl morphology exhibited a higher photocatalytic activity than that of commercial TiO2 in degradation of methyl orange under either UV light or simulated sunlight illumination. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: One-dimensional (1D) materials can increase mechanical properties along the long axis of the reinforcement for the composites because of the transfer of stress across the reinforcement-matrix interfaces parallel with the load. In this study, 1D hexagonal-prism-like ZrB2 particles were synthesized by a sol–gel route using zirconium n-propoxide, boric acid, acetic acid, and fructose. Fructose acted as both a modifier and a carbon source for carbothermal reduction reaction. For comparison purposes, both nascent state gel and aged gel were used to clarify the aging-time-dependent mechanism for ZrB2 synthesis. As a result, a single phase ZrB2 could only be obtained from the aged gel with the optimal ratios (by mol.) of 1.2 and 5 for both fructose and acetic acid to zirconium n-propoxide, respectively, reduced at an optimal temperature of 1550°C for 2h. Additionally, it revealed a perfect hexagonal-prism-like morphology for the ZrB2 particles with a uniform size and shape distribution, and average particle size of ca. 0.8μm in diameter of excircle of the hexagonal cross-section. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper, the approximate controllability of fractional impulsive neutral stochastic differential equations with nonlocal conditions and infinite delay in Hilbert spaces is studied. By using the Krasnoselskii-Schaefer-type fixed point theorem and stochastic analysis theory, some sufficient conditions are given for the approximate controllability of the system. At the end, an example is given to illustrate the application of our result. MSC: 65C30, 93B05, 34K40, 34K45. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We consider a modified collision branching process incorporating with both independent immigration and instantaneous resurrection. The existence criterion of the process is firstly considered, and also we use the resolvent decomposition theorem to prove that there is a unique CBP-IIR. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We consider decay properties including the decay parameter, invariant measures and quasi-stationary distributions for a Markovian bulk-arrival and bulk-service queue which stops when the waiting line is empty. Investigating such a model is crucial for understanding the busy period and other related properties of the Markovian bulk-arrival and bulk-service queuing processes. The exact value of the decay parameter λ is first obtained. We show that the decay parameter can be easily expressed explicitly. The invariant measures and quasi-distributions are then revealed. We show that there exists a family of invariant measures indexed by λ∈[0, λ]. We then show that under some mild conditions there exists a family of quasi-stationary distributions also indexed by λ∈[0, λ]. The generating functions of these invariant measures and quasi-stationary distributions are presented. We further show that this stopped Markovian bulk-arrival and bulk-service queueing model is always λ-transient. Some deep properties regarding λ-transience are examined and revealed. The clear geometric interpretation of the decay parameter is explained. A few examples are then provided to illustrate the results obtained in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While beneficial therapeutically, almost all medications have untoward effects on various body tissues and functions, including the eye in which organ toxic reactions are readily detectable. Every part of the eye and all ocular functions could be affected adversely. In this review, we describe the most commonly recognized drug-induced ocular disorders, their specific clinical features, the medications that can cause the problem, the differential diagnosis and possible mechanisms of action, as well as guidelines for the management of the adverse reactions.The eyelids are most frequently involved in drug toxicity that commonly manifests as inflammation, hypersensitivity reaction or dermatitis. Drug-induced keratoconjunctival disorders present mainly as conjunctival hyperaemia (red eye), with or without superficial corneal involvement. Frequently, drug preservatives in topical ocular medications induce these adverse effects. Treatment of blepharospasm with Botox may lead to drooping of the eyelids and corneal exposure. Intraoperative floppy iris syndrome is a drug-induced reaction in patients treated with tamsulosin and who undergo cataract surgery. Certain sulfa-based drugs can cause swelling of the ciliary body and lead to the development of angle-closure glaucoma. In addition, adrenergic agents, certain β2-adrenergic agonists and anticholinergic agents may induce pupillary dilation and precipitate angle-closure glaucoma in susceptible patients. Glucocorticoids administered systemically, topically or intravitreally are known to increase intraocular pressure, which can lead to the development of open-angle glaucoma in susceptible patients. This painless form of glaucoma has also been associated with the use of the anticancer agents docetaxel and paclitaxel. The toxic effects of systemic and topically applied drugs may manifest as cloudiness of the lens. Long-term use of glucocorticoids produces a characteristic posterior subcapsular cataract and, although the opacities may remain stationary or progress, they rarely regress upon drug withdrawal. Systemic administration of phenothiazines or busulfan induce cataractous changes in the anterior or posterior cortex, respectively. Many systemic drugs reach the retina through the vascular supply. Aminoquinolines induce a characteristic bull’s eye maculopathy. Phenothiazines bind to melanin granules and can cause a severe phototoxic retinopathy. Typical tamoxifen retinopathy manifests as crytalline deposits in the inner retina. Some patients treated with retinoids have decreased night vision and abnormal dark-adaptation. Patients on long-term treatment with linezolid may develop an optic neuropathy (swollen or pale optic disc), symmetric painless decrease of visual acuity and colour vision, and bilateral visual field defects. A probable link exists between amiodarone and a bilateral optic neuropathy that is very similar to nonarteritic ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION). The most common adverse effects of cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (erectile dysfunction drugs) are changes in colour perception, blurry vision and increased light sensitivity; recently these drugs have been also implicated in the development of NAION. A bilateral, retrobulbar optic neuropathy that manifests as loss of visual acuity or colour vision and visual field defect is associated with the use of ethambutol. Many different kinds of medications can cause similar ocular adverse reactions. Conversely, a single medication may affect more than one ocular structure and cause multiple, clinically recognizable disorders. Clinicians should be mindful of drug-induced ocular disorders, whether or not listed in product package inserts and, if in doubt, consult with an ophthalmologist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A facile pathway has been developed to prepare silica-based micro/mesoporous bimodal hybrids with super hydrophobicity. It is the special feature of this pathway that though there are no surfactants introduced during the hydrolysis and polycondensation process, the obtained materials exhibit high specific surface areas, high porosity and bimodal structure. Actually, polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS), one of the silica sources, assembles itself into a special conformation and plays the role of a structure-directing agent that leads to the formation of the micro/mesophases. Thus, it is thought this novel protocol might be a profitable complement to those methods previously reported for the preparation of porous materials. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Uniform wurtzite ZnS nanosheets were synthesized through the growth of template-directed aggregation from small nanoclusters at room temperature. The process involved the fabrication of ZnS nanoclusters using ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) as stabilizer and the subsequent arrangement of these nanoclusters into sheet-like nanostructures in the presence of butylamine (BA). Interestingly, upon their organization into nanosheets, the quantum-confined effect of ZnS nanoclusters retained. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Mesostructured AlSBA-15-SO3H materials with various Si/Al ratios were prepared by a one-pot method and characterized by XRD, N2 adsorption, NH3-TPD and Si, Al MAS-NMR techniques. With the incorporation of Al into SBA-15-SO3H, the total acid sites substantially increased. Such materials showed high activity in the esterification of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) with salicylic acid (SA), and the selectivity of methyl salicylate was correlated with the Bronsted acidity of the catalysts. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Novel sandwich-like structured zinc sulfide (ZnS)/octylamine (OA) hybrid nanosheets with exclusively sheet-like morphology were synthesized for the first time via a mild hydrothermal route using OA as structure-directing agent. The as-synthesized products were characterized by the X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scan electron microscopy, energy dispersive analyses of X-rays, thermogravimetric analysis, and ultraviolet and visible absorption spectroscopy. The results showed that OA molecules were intercalated between wurtzite ZnS layers. As revealed from optical absorption measurements, the hybrid nanosheets exhibits strong quantum confinement effect with a great blue shift in the band gap. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Direct ink writing (DIW) offers significant advantages for efficient manufacturing of complex ceramic composite components. However, the mechanical properties of short carbon fiber-reinforced ceramic composites fabricated by DIW technology were not ideal, mainly be ascribed to the absence of a suitable coating on the fiber as an interface. In this work, C sf /ZrB 2 green bodies were printed by an optimized extrusion process using pyrolytic carbon-coated short carbon fibers (C sf). High-performance C sf /ZrB 2 –SiC composites were obtained through the infiltration and pyrolysis of SiC precursor six times. With increasing C sf content, the dimensional deviations decreased and the mechanical properties increased. When the C sf content was 30 vol%, the dimensional deviation of the C sf /ZrB 2 –SiC composite was less than −0.5 % in the X and Y directions and about −2 % in the Z direction. A marked increase in the flexural strength and fracture toughness of the composite was also obtained, reaching 275.0 MPa and 5.26 MPa m1/2, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rock abrasivity and hardness are two of the crucial mechanical properties in geological exploration and petroleum engineering. To figure out how the rock mineral composition determines the rock mechanical properties, ninety-six samples from ten provinces of China were collected to carry out tests including mineral contents, mineral particle size, abrasivity and hardness, and testing results indicated there is strong relationship between them. Through data processing of normalization, correlation analysis, and grouping, the raw testing data were used to establish a prediction function with Back-Propagation Artificial Neural Network (short as BP-ANN). With this prediction function, rock abrasivity and hardness can be accurately calculated from input parameters including rock type, mineral contents, and particle size. Besides, the calculation results from this prediction function also revealed the changing trend of abrasivity and hardness on how to be affected by mineral contents and particle size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dissimilar butt joint of pure aluminum and commercially pure copper was prepared using friction stir welding (FSW) process and subsequent post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) was also performed to improve the mechanical properties of the joints. The microstructural evolution of the intermetallic compounds (IMCs) was principally characterized by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy diffraction spectrometer (SEM-EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The results suggested that the IMCs layer played a critical role on the metallurgical bounding. A 1.9 μm thickness of Al Cu IMCs layer successfully achieved by the post annealing treatment which was composed of dominated Al 2 Cu phase with average grain size of 0.72 μm and small proportion of Al 4 Cu 9 phase. This thin IMCs layer with very fine grain structure and further refined Al matrix in stir zone promoted the improvement of total joint strength from 79% towards 95% of Al base material. Moreover, the failure mode of the FS Welds converted into the mixed fracture from original brittle fracture. While the very low strength with high brittleness of the joint was mainly attributed to the thicker thickness of IMCs layer containing coarse Al 2 Cu grains with average grain size of 2.6 μm, which produced by the solution treatment. It was established that the existence of the IMCs layer was the main contribution to the distinct rise in microhardness. In addition, the high fraction of high angle grain boundaries of Al 2 Cu phase indicated the occurrence of grain bulging mechanism through grain boundary migration during annealing treatment. The grain growth behavior of IMCs layer revealed that a core-shell structured AlCu-Al 4 Cu 9 particles probably occurred in the Al 2 Cu matrix. • A composite process respectively comprised of friction stir welding process with low heat input and post-weld annealing treatment process for the as-welded joint, was performed on the Al-Cu butt configuration. • A wireless temperature acquisition device was designed and applied to measure the temperature history of the stir zone in real-time during the process of friction stir welding, it was very helpful to evaluate the formation of the IMCs. • By means of EBSD and HR-TEM, the microstructural evolution of the intermetallic compounds layer was carefully observed, and its grain structural evolution and grain growth mechanism were discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premature failures of cable bolts due to stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in underground reinforcement systems are universal issues with limited practical countermeasures at present. To determine the SCC fracture mechanism which is an essential step to develop the potential solutions, the environment conditions leading to SCC failures were examined using four-point bend tests. Fractographic features of both serviced-failed and laboratory-failed cable bolts were investigated and compared. It was identified that the fracture surfaces of cable wires were characterised by step-shape fracture mode. The highly-oriented wavy lamellae microstructures of cable wires, produced during cold-drawn manufacturing process, have significant effects on the direction and path of crack propagation. Hydrogen-assisted SCC was suggested as the dominant fracture mechanism in cable bolt failures. SCC only occurred in the environmental conditions that promoted the diffusion of hydrogen diffusion into the cable wires, and crack growth rates were determined by the hydrogen diffusion rates. This study provided fundamental knowledge on fracture mechanism of cable bolts which can be applied to further study in identifying potential countermeasures against the SCC of cold-drawn high-carbon cable bolts. • The environment conditions leading to SCC of cable bolts were examined using four-point bending tests. • SCC only occurred in the conditions that promoted the diffusion of hydrogen into the cable wires. • The oriented microstructure produced during cold-drawn process affected the direction and path of crack propagation. • A cohesive fracture mechanism including the crack initiation, crack propagation and catastrophic failure was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Our findings show that the positive casual relationship only explored between the duration of TV watching time and COPD and its related respiratory insufficiency. • There is no causal relationship between physical activity, leisure sedentary behaviors (driving and computer-using), COPD risk, and COPD insufficiency. • COPD patients, especially middle-aged and elderly people, should promote regular physical exercise and reduce leisure sedentary behaviors like TV watching. Chronic diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have been linked to low levels of physical activity (PA) and higher frequency of leisure sedentary behavior (LSB). The main causes of COPD include respiratory and peripheral muscle dysfunction, low levels of PA, and LSB which are associated with a higher risk of developing COPD. The attribution relationship between PA or LSB and COPD risk or COPD respiratory insufficiency is unclear. To explore this further, we conducted a Mendelian randomization (MR) study using a genotype-simulated randomized trial group to systematically evaluate the causal relationships of PA/LSB on COPD risk and respiratory insufficiency. The exposure data were obtained from large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS), including the PA dataset (N = 729,373) and LSB dataset (N = 1,109,337). The outcome data were derived from the Finn-Gen COPD dataset (N = 381,392). The causal effects were estimated with IVW 1 1 IVW: inverse variance weighted , MR-Egger, and WM 2 2 WM: weighted median methods. Sensitivity analysis was conducted using Cochran's Q test, MR-Egger intercept test, MR-PRESSO 3 3 MR-PRESSO: Mendelian Randomization Pleiotropy Residual Sum and Outlier , leave-one-out analysis, and funnel plot to estimate the robustness of our findings. Genetically predicted leisure television (TV) watching significantly increased the risk of COPD (OR = 2.4895, 95 % CI: 1.85259 to 3.34536; P = 1.44 × 10−9) and COPD respiratory insufficiency (OR = 2.55, 95 % CI: 1.53 to 4.27; P = 3.54 × 10−4). No casual effect of other PA or LSB phenotypes on COPD risk or respiratory insufficiency was observed. Our study provides evidence that TV watching may increase the risk of COPD and its related respiratory insufficiency. These findings emphasized the importance of promoting regular physical exercise and reducing leisure sedentary behavior to prevent COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon fiber reinforced silicon carbide matrix composites (Cf/SiC composites) are lightweight, high strength, wear-resistant, and heat-resistant, making them widely used in aerospace and other industries. However, machining holes in Cf/SiC composites is a great challenge due to the anisotropy and high hardness of the material. In this paper, a brazed diamond grinding rod was employed to grind 1 mm diameter holes in Cf/SiC composites, and the influence of grinding parameters on grinding force, hole entrance/exit defects, and hole wall quality was investigated. In addition, the material removal mechanism of Cf/SiC composites and the wear mechanism of the diamond grinding rod were explored. The findings showed that the damage at the hole entrance and exit predominantly manifests as tearing and burring. The damage factor at the hole exit is 3.5% larger than that at the hole entrance, and the damage factor at both the hole entrance and exit reduces with the growth of spindle speed and the decrease of feed rate. In addition, the diameter errors of the hole entrances and exits are all less than 10%, and the entrance diameter is 2.9% larger than the exit. The hole wall defects include fiber fracture, silicon carbide matrix peeling, and inherent porosity, with poorer surface quality at fiber orientation angles (FOA) of 90° to 180°. The main wear mechanisms were identified as abrasive wear and the spalling of abrasive grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we are concerned with the E-Bayesian (the expectation of Bayesian estimate) method, the maximum likelihood and the Bayesian estimation methods of the shape parameter, and the reliability function of one-parameter Burr-X distribution. A hybrid generalized Type-II censored sample from one-parameter Burr-X distribution is considered. The Bayesian and E-Bayesian approaches are studied under squared error and LINEX loss functions by using the Markov chain Monte Carlo method. Confidence intervals for maximum likelihood estimates, as well as credible intervals for the E-Bayesian and Bayesian estimates, are constructed. Furthermore, an example of real-life data is presented for the sake of the illustration. Finally, the performance of the E-Bayesian estimation method is studied then compared with the performance of the Bayesian and maximum likelihood methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The behavior of rock mass is governed by the properties of both the rock material and discontinuities in the rock mass. Surrounding environments including the existence of water also have a great influence on the behavior and mechanical properties of rocks. In this study, a novel-designed compression and seepage testing system, associated with an acoustic emission system, was designed and constructed. The changes in the specimens resulting from the uniaxial compression were monitored by an acoustic emission technique. The characteristics of the acoustic emission parameters at different stages including compaction and crack initiation, crack propagation, and catastrophic failure were analyzed. The existence of seepage had direct influences on the mechanical properties and failure patterns of the specimens. The specimens tested in pure compression conditions demonstrated strong burst proneness and ruptured into separate pieces, while for the specimens with seepage, no burst proneness was observed and the specimens tended to fail along a macroscopic shear failure plane. The highest average energy of the acoustic signal occurred at the stage of initial rupture of rock specimens, rather than at the stage of widespread rupture. The studies explored the possibilities of using the acoustic emission technique to investigate the problems associated with the seepage in geotechnical and rock engineering and provided meaningful results for further research in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a correction notice for an article titled "Phospholipid scramblase 1 interacts with influenza A virus NP, impairing its nuclear import and thereby suppressing virus replication." The correction addresses errors in the figures of the original article, including the reuse of data and incorrect images. The corrected figures are provided in the notice, and the original unadjusted images are available as supplementary material. The authors apologize for the errors and provide an updated Data Availability statement. [Extracted from the article]

This study was designed to explore the expression changes of P2Y1 receptors in the distal colonic myenteric layer of rats. An opioid induced constipation(OIC) rat model was generated by intraperitoneal (i.p) injection of loperamide. At 7 days post-treatment, the model rats were assessed by calculating the fecal water content and the gastrointestinal transit ratio. The immunofluorescence (IF)-based histochemical study was used to observe the distribution of P2Y1 receptors in the distal colonic myenteric plexus. Western blotting (WB) was performed to evaluate the expression changes of P2Y1 proteins in the myenteric layer, and the electrophysiological approaches were carried out to determine the regulatory roles of P2Y1 receptors on distal colonic motor function. IF showed that P2Y1 receptors are co-expressed MOR in the enteric nerve cells of the distal colonic myenteric plexus. Moreover, the WB revealed that the protein levels of P2Y1 were significantly decreased in the distal colonic myenteric layer of OIC rats. In vitro tension experiments exhibited that the P2Y1 receptor antagonist MRS2500 enhanced the spontaneous contraction amplitude, adding EM2 and β-FNA did not have any effect on MRS2500. Therefore, P2Y1 receptor expression could be associated with the occurrence of OIC in this rat model and the regulation of colonic motility by MOR may be related to the release of purine neurotransmitters such as ATP in the colonic nervous system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disorders mainly caused by ischemia‐reperfusion (I/R), including stroke and myocardial infarction, is linked to debilitating health conditions and death. Recent research indicates that microRNAs (miRNAs) mediate the process of ischemic pathology. This study investigated the effects of miR‐145‐5p in regulating myocardial ischemic injury. The I/R models were established in rat cardiomyocytes H9C2 and rats. Western blot analysis and quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to analyze protein expression. Annexin V‐FITC/PI staining was conducted to evaluate cell apoptosis. The application of miR‐145‐5p mimics and inhibitor revealed that miR‐145‐5p promoted apoptosis in cardiomyocytes. Furthermore, we found that miR‐145‐5p directly inhibited dual specificity phosphatase 6 (DUSP6) by luciferase reporter assay. The results indicated that DUSP6 was beneficial against I/R injury through inhibiting c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase pathways. In conclusion, the essential roles of miR‐145‐5p and DUSP6 in I/R provide a novel therapeutic target to develop future intervention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because there are less restrictions in space, a variety of different movement patterns and equipment structures may be used during the process of planetary surface sampling. Traditionally, the optimal analysis for surface sampling is focused on specific equipment structures and movements; in contrast, a new modular motion-structure design model for surface sampling, which is a more flexible model, is discussed in this paper. By establishing and combining two basic module groups, namely, the motion group and the structure group, this new design model can define and analyse multiple movement patterns and structures. For the motion group, calculating the sampling trajectory is the main purpose, in which there are two basic modules: tridimensional uniform rectilinear movements and tridimensional uniform circular movements. The two basic motion modules can be freely combined in a given coordinate system to simulate a random sampling trajectory. The structure group contains a series of curved and flat plates, which can be defined by a set of unified parameters (including section, extension, and cutting parameters). By assigning different values to these parameters, the curved or flat plates can represent different external shapes. The different structures of the various pieces of surface sampling equipment can be simulated by combining these different plates. In addition to defining these basic modules, analysing the coupling among different modules, which can be simplified to the relationship between velocity and surface, plays an important role in establishing this design model. Based on the modular design theory, this new model will not only reduce the difficulty of analysis but also improve accuracy for planetary surface sampling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A loose coupling method is adopted to study electromagnetic tube bulging, and effect of processing parameters on electromagnetic tube bulging is analyzed. The results show that critical relative length increases with the increasing of coil length, when coil approaches infinite length, critical length approximates 1. With the rise of relative position, radial magnetic pressure acting on the top end of tube increases, when relative position is equal or greater than 30 mm, radial magnetic pressure of tube top end remains unvaried. Relative position of 30-50 mm is optimal position for electromagnetic tube flanging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]